Bill Would Ease Nevada’s Indoor Smoking Ban

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Anti-smoking advocacy groups are crying foul over a bill introduced in the Assembly that would ease a voter approved ban on indoor smoking.

AB571 was introduced Friday by the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

Nevada’s Clean Indoor Air Act approved by voters in 2006 prohibits indoor smoking at most public places and on school grounds, but allows smoking in stand-alone bars and taverns that only sell prepackaged foods, such as nuts and pretzels.

Smoking is also allowed on gambling floors of casinos.

The bill would allow bar and tavern operators to determine if their food service is “incidental” to their business, thereby allowing smoking.